The Best One-Hit Wonders of the ’60s
The best one-hit wonders of the ’60s display the diversity of music in the decade, as classic rock started to work its way in later in the decade. – Author: Anne Erickson, The Tokens album cover via Sony Legacy
The 1960s were a decade of great rock music, and many of the bands that came out of that era were anything but one-hit wonders. It brought the birth of album-based classic rock rock, and bands that thrived in that era, such as Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, had multiple hits and successful albums. Other artists got that one big hit and made a name for themselves off that. Of course, these one-hit wonder bands and artists have much more in their catalog than one song, but one tops the rest. We’re paying tribute to some of the greatest one-hit wonders of the ’60s, chiefly in the pop and rock genres. It’s worth noting that the ’60s were a very transitionary time in rock, so the songs that were big early in the decade had a very 1950s, almost doo-wop vibe while the later songs started to evolve into a dirtier, more classic rock sound.
Best One-Hit Wonders of the ’60s
Ben E. King, “Stand By Me”
When Ben E. King released “Stand By Me” in 1961, it instantly became one of the most inspirational songs of its era. King wrote the song with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and they together went by Elmo Glick. King has noted that the name of the song comes from a spiritual written by Sam Cooke and J. W. Alexander called “Stand by Me Father.” It’s a special song and certainly one of the best one-hit wonders of the ’60s. “Stand By Me” has also been covered numerous times.
Blue Cheer, “Summertime Blues”
Blue Cheer had more than just one popular song, and they’re known for being one of the very first hard rock or metal bands, but none of their songs really topped the popularity of “Summertime Blues.” The 1968 gem was first co-written and recorded by Eddie Cochran in the 1950s, and while that version was successful, Blue Cheer’s 1960s version is a classic. In the country world, Alan Jackson also has a No. 1 country hit with his rendition of the song.
The Archies, “Sugar, Sugar”
The Archies weren’t really a band. they were a fictional cartoon-comic group from Archie Comics, but they wouldn’t be the first to be a cartoon band. Just look at Gorillaz. Regardless, the Archies earned a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for an impressive 22 weeks with their 1969 hit “Sugar, Sugar.” The infectious song is simply catchy and fun. It’s one of the best one-hit wonders of the ’60s.
The Tokens, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
Early in the decade, in 1961, the Tokens unleashed their megahit, “The Lions Sleeps Tonight.” Between the smooth, unmistakable falsetto vocals in the track and overall doo-wop feel, this song is simply a joy of a listen. “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was originally written and first recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda so it’s not an original. The lyrics of the original song were written in Zulu, and the later English ones were written by George David Weiss. The song has been adapted and covered by a range of artists, but the Tokens’ version stands out.
Aside from the best one-hit wonders of the ’60s, discover some of the greatest one-hit wonders of the 1970s in this feature.
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